A collection of short essays exploring the relevance of the words of Françoise des Bois in the 21st century. Through the lens of social progress and feminist thought, these reflections seek to interpret her ideas in a modern context and draw meaningful connections between her life and contemporary society. Written by her great-granddaughter, Denise Larrivee, this work invites thoughtful dialogue and is open to public commentary.
On Fashion, Folly, and the Quiet Power of Simplicity
The Oscars, the annual event recognizing the past year’s best in film, took place this past weekend, and it admittedly snuck up on me. Not owning a TV over the past few years has left me a little out of the loop, not that this is necessarily a bad thing, given how overly hyped the…
On Gossip and the Quiet Harm of Words/Technology
My great grandmother lived most of her life in the small towns and rural communities of western Manitoba during a time when fast and efficient communication was virtually nonexistent. Apart from face-to-face contact, communication between residents was limited, as technologies such as telephone systems were not yet widely available. Churches, schoolhouses, the post office, and…
On An Education That Endures
Françoise des Bois (Wilhelmine Larrivée), my great-grandmother, was not only a hardworking wife and mother, but also a devoted teacher. In her home province of Quebec, she attended schools and collèges where she received an excellent education, ultimately qualifying to teach in both French and English. In doing so, she surpassed the educational expectations typically…
On Choosing a life, not just a husband
In her August 24, 1915 column, I come to know my great-grandmother as something of a radical, not quite a feminist as we understand the term today, but unquestionably bold for her generation. As I read her reflections on remaining single in the absence of a suitable husband, I found myself quietly cheering in admiration.…
A Century of Marriage: Then & Now
Reference Article: Le Coin des Dames – August 16, 1915 A Century of Marriage: Then and Now This article, written in 1915 by my paternal great-grandmother, offers striking insight into the concept of marriage from the perspective of a mature woman of her era. On a personal level, it does more than illuminate social norms…
Reflections from the Woods; On quietness and friendship
Reference Article: Le Coin des Dames – June 15th, 1915 Reading Françoise des Bois (Wilhelmine Larrivee) feels like visiting the past and being gently reminded to slow down. Her beautiful words come from a world very différent from what we know in terms of time and space today. In June 1915, des Bois is living…
From Books to Feeds: What Shapes Us Now
Reference Article: Le Coin des Dames – July 27th, 1915 When Françoise des Bois warned young women in her July 27th, 1915 article about the quiet influence of “bad books,” she was not really talking about paper and ink. She was talking about unexamined influence about stories that slip past our defenses, reshape our expectations,…